$60 mil for childcare support

The key items in the package include $42.7 million to build an Early Childhood School in Franklin, $7.5 million to build a childcare centre in Holder, the release of five sites for childcare centres to be built, and $9 million to upgrade childcare centres in community facilities to help existing centres transition to new staff-to-child ratios and increase places.

The package consists of:

Franklin Early Childhood School

The 2011-12 ACT Budget will commit $42.7 through the ACT Department of Educationand Training to build Franklin Early Childhood School, which will incorporate a 120-place childcare centre as well as 300 places for preschool to year two students.

The construction of Franklin Early Childhood School will mean the ACT will have six early childhood schools providing 15 hours of free preschool, with co-located childcare and early primary school years.

Holder Early Childhood Centre

The ACT Government will also invest $7.5 million to build a 125-place childcare centre at Holder which will serve families in the South of Canberra and the new population centre of Molonglo. Holder Early Childhood Centre and Franklin Early Childhood School will be tendered to community-based childcare services.

Release of Five Sites for Childcare Use

The ACT Government today announced the release of five sites for childcare use at Macarthur, Holt, McKellar, Gungahlin and Giralang. With a low childcare place vacancy rate of 11 per cent, the Government recognises that accessibility and cost of childcare in the ACT is a major issue facing families, which is why it is increasing land supply to provide more affordable childcare places.

Upgrade to Community Childcare Centres

$9 million over two years to upgrade childcare centres in community facilities to assist centres in the transition to the new national reforms and provide a better quality service and extra childcare places for families.

Early Childhood Scholarships

Stemming from the recent Children’s Services Roundtable, Minister Burch also announced the Government will introduce a new scholarship program to assist the early childhood workforce to meet the requirements of the National Quality Framework.

I hope the “new” centres last longer than the one at Macarthur. It has been derelict and rat infested for over 2 years now but still proudly bears the signage “Public Education Works”. Maybe this is why 50% of Canberrans send their offspring to private schools? Maybe KC can do an encore demolition job on it?

Schools listed for closure, but escaped (generally considered to be ambit claims, but the two of the primary schools would be sitting ducks next time around)
Primary Schools at: Giralang, Gilmore, Mt Rogers (in Melba)
Dickson College

Other changes
Stromlo High School (expanded to 6 –10)
Chisholm amalgamated to P-10
Melba High and Copland College amalgamated to 7-12
Urambi Primary School closed to become part of the new Kambah P-10 in 2010

Schools that escaped other changes (generally silly ideas and probably ambit claims)
Charnwood Primary School (was to be P-3)
O’Connor Cooperative School (was to be amalgamated with Turner)
Forrest and Yarralumla Primary Schools (were to be amalgamated)
Campbell High School (was to be expanded to 7-12)
Kaleen High School (removed from the hit list before the June 06 budget announcement)
Wanniassa School (two sites amalgamated)